It's Rare Disease Day 2025!
28 February marks Rare Disease Day. It's a day dedicated to raising awareness and funds for people and families affected by rare diseases across the globe.
A disease is said to be rare when it affects fewer than 1 in 2,000 people. It's estimated that over 300 million people worldwide live with a rare disease.
Living with a rare disease can be difficult. When your condition is rare, there's much less research being done to understand your conditions and fewer specialists to offer the right kind of help. Many people struggle to get a diagnosis in the first place, let alone the treatments they need to live well. This can be made even more difficult in countries where basic healthcare is already difficult to access.
The aim of Rare Disease day is to work towards equitable access to diagnosis, treatment, health and social care and social opportunity for people affected by a rare disease.
If you'd like to get involved, Rare Disease Day are encouraging people to 'light up for rare' at home:
#LightUpForRare - Rare Disease Day 2025
But just chatting about how Rare Disease affects you can help raise awareness and get the conversation flowing.
Do you or someone you know live with a rare disease? Will you be doing anything to mark the day?
